Will Zalatoris tests positive for COVID, WDs from AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Two days after coming within inches of his first PGA Tour win, Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am after testing positive for COVID-19.

Zalatoris, 25, entered the week as one of the tournament favorites, with only Patrick Cantlay and Daniel Berger (who’s defending his Pebble Beach Pro-Am title) owning lower betting odds. Zalatoris was coming off one of his best performances on tour, with a birdie putt to win the Farmers Insurance Open on the 72nd hole falling just short.

“I’ve seen enough putts through the years coming down that hill to know that that putt just doesn’t go left,” Zalatoris said of the putt, “and it happened to go left.” Luke List ultimately won a playoff after birdieing the first hole of sudden death.

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Despite the tough break, the reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year has avoided a sophomore slump. Prior to Torrey Pines he finished T-6 at The American Express to go with top-15 finishes at the Fortinet Championship and Sanderson Farms Championship. He’s 17th in the FedEx Cup standings and first in strokes gained/tee-to-green.

Zalatoris, No. 29 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was billed as one of the marquee attractions at Pebble Beach, as many of the sport’s top-ranked players are competing overseas in the Asian Tour's Saudi International. He had two previous appearances at Pebble Beach, his best finish a T-55 last year.

Greg Chalmers will take Zalatoris’ place in the field.